Aontú calls for an end to municipal clamping, saying Dublin is the only capital city in Europe that still uses this outdated system “from the last century.”
Leader Peadar Tóibín has written to Dublin City Council to ask it to cut the clamps from the capital, and move to a more modern method of parking control.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has written to Dublin City Council chief executive Richard Shakespeare to ask that the council end clamping in the capital, where it is understood to be the only major city in Europe left still using the punitive measure.
Deputy Tóibín pointed out Dublin is not only the only city in Ireland where the council clamps, it’s likely the only remaining capital in Europe still doing it.
He wrote: “It’s a scourge for everyone who uses a car in the city; not only residents, but those from around the country who come here for work and pleasure; and for international tourists.
“But clamping is a thing of the past. Dublin is in fact an outlier. It appears to be the last European city where municipal clamping still exists. The sight of these dreaded yellow steel appendages on your vehicle is something from another time,
“In other cities across Europe and beyond, digital fines are issued. This is because clamping is a traffic management solution from the last century. It was arguably of its time around the millennium, when parking tickets existed. But it is now outdated, in a digital world.
“It worsens traffic. It is inefficient, expensive and counter productive. It make sense all round to do away with this archaic and unnecessarily punitive system. Will you rid the city of clampers?”
The Meath West TD made the request as Dublin City Council has not renewed its regular contract with clamping company DSPS. He asked if the new contract will clamp cars, or move to a better system.
